The Grey Rain-Curtain Of This World Rolls Back

I have a friend who never wears coats. He also happens to live in Pennsylvania and often at college I would catch him outside shivering, near a pile of dirty snow. His personal theory was that he could get everywhere he was going quickly. Thus, why does one need a coat if you are trotting from warm car to warm building? I have another PA friend who wears flip flops year round, again despite chill weather. Perhaps PA turns you crazy, but lately I have been inching towards their personal philosophy. Is it warm enough to wear open-toed shoes and bare legs right now? No, but if I'm only planning on being outside for a minute...

This lovely, little skirt looks like it could have been made from the storm clouds or grey water behind me. Modcloth named the skirt after the most adorable Project Runway contestant ever: Leanne. Her final collection was in softer, warmer colors, but it did have a similar organic aesthetic. While my particular skirt decidedly needs ironing (I'm lazy), it is definitely a good piece to add to the arsenal. Skirts in basic colors can always be worn with everything from band tees to button-downs, so one with nice details or an overall unique shape and pretty drape can definitely add a little punch to the basics.

what a great philosophy, sometimes i abide by it as well. for example, today we are experiencing the worst snow storm in about 6 years, and i decided to go shovel snow in a sweatshirt, leggings and wellies.

Super cute. I love the way you look in the second to last pic! There's something about your smile. The shoes are awesome too. I like your "only outside for a little while" philosophy. I'm afraid I sometimes follow it as well. ;-)

Though I must admit I wore open toed shoes WITH tights the other day and I couldn't help thinking all day: "Do people think I'm crazy for wearing open toed shoes in the middle of winter?" That said it IS 10 degrees outside (Celsius!)

Yeah and seriously, what up with crazy people and no coats, my boyfriend doesn't like to wear coats if he can avoid it, he just puts on a bazillion layers of clothing that I end up having to launder. I shall never understand.

You look adorable. I love the shoes and the skirt is very nice, especially with the draping and high waist. I don't know if I could adopt the no coat, no tights philosophy. I think I a) like wearing them too much and b) am cold even in the house if its under 70 degrees:)

What a beautiful setting! And I love this skirt and the way it folds. It's my mission this year to find interesting skirts as all I seem to buy is dresses!Seriously too cold in the UK for bare legs, but then I am a bit of a wuss..

I'm in PA and your friend sounds a bit crazy especially since the entire state is currently living under 2 feet+ of snow right now.Loving that Jeffrey Campbell shoes! I love the heel that isn't too high.

Everything in this post is absolutely beautiful! The way that skirt flows is gorgeous and is totally reminiscent of Leanne's aesthetic for her last collection; such an aptly named skirt. Although I do like your friends' philosophy on not wearing coats and such if we're only going to be outside for a few minutes, I could never go through with it. I overdress during the winter because I get cold much too easily so I always have to be bundled up with layers! I applaud your notion to go with peep toes and bare legs today.

It must be a mid-Atlantic thing...I see insane people walking around in shorts and flip-flops in winter all the time at the U of DE! (For the record, I've never been one of them...I get cold way too easily!)

Also, I usually don't care for bubble skirts, but that one looks very cute on you.

I think it IS a PA thing. I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to school with a guy who was determined to wear shorts every day for a year (even in the snow). And my freshman year at Penn State, I knew a guy who would wear a white undershirt and green sweat pants every day. No jacket, no different colored shirt or sweats. White undershirt and green sweats every day.

Your photos are always so lovely, but every now and then (well, okay, pretty much every post) there is one shot that just hypnotizes me! That first one, the background, the way you're standing, hair, colors! Ahhh! So beautiful.

the skirt is exactly the kind of thing Leanne would design, it's superb. your photos are amazing as always. I wish I had a view as beautiful as yours. I love living in the city, but would kill for a getaway to where you live.xoxo,miha

cute!my way around bare legs without being ridiculously cold is to wear white tights with skin-coloured pantyhose over the top... they look just like bare legs, but you have the benefit of another layer =)could be a problem with open-toed shoes though... all those seams..

The grey skirt is great, but it's the cardigan that makes this outfit. I love the grey in the skirt mixed with the turquoise color of the cardigan! And I'm itching to wear sandals again, but alas- I'm in Cleveland and we have about a foot and a half of snow outside =/

Leanne was my favorite of that season, I would def. love to see more of her work.I never thought about your friends theories before, but I suppose it is true....I love your shirt, I've been looking for a screen printed tee but haven't had any luck!http://thedollhouse0101.blogspot.com/

I am always tempted to ditch the coat or opt for some sheer tights instead of leggings, but I am a big wuss. I start calculating that it will take 15 minutes to wait for the bus [each way] and then 10 to walk to class and decide that 25 minutes is enough for leggings... and occasionally, to my embarrassment, uggs.

I love the pictures you have here! Especially the one with the reflection of the trees on the water...gorgeous. :) And your outfit is lovely as well - not happy you're coatless, you tiny thing - but I agree on basic skirts and whatnot. Timeless pieces... and my mom's name is Leanna, haha, which is a name you don't hear too often...

cold weather be damned, your outfit is fabulous! the skirt is indeed the perfect stormy sky item- i love the sideways movement of the pleats. and those shoes are so fun! by the way- are you headed to nyc this weekend? i hope to see you around! ~joelle

I love ModCloth. They are so cute with their product names! I also love the ring you are wearing. So cool! I love statement rings even though I always end up taking them off mid-day because I type all day long!

I like this particular piece, because like the dynamic nature of the landscapes where you photograph, there is movement in the shape and cut of the skirt, even while you are standing still.

The cut and angle of it, though, are a nice edgy, urban juxtaposition against the very pastoral existence of the elements in the background.

It's an interaction of nature and man while at the same time sort of mirroring similarities.

I don't think your friends are wise if they are doing that same thing now, considering PA has gotten pounded with at least two feet of snow in the last few days.

When there's a drop in temps and an inch of precipitation on the ground, I think nonsensical shoes (like flip flops in winter) are alright indoors but not when you are outside, no matter how little time you spend outside. If it's snowing and 25F, I'm not going to venture outside without a coat and sweater and snow boots. Granted, I will have cute accessories and shoes in my tote bag to change into the minute I get to the office, but still. Function over form first.

I just adore that skirt! Leanne was my favorite! Her final collection was just so cohesive, soft and lovely. You are so lucky not to have to wear layers upon layers and boots with everything. I do not have the whole from a warm car to a warm someplace else possibility, and waiting for the bus takes quite some time.Though, I'm pretty sure that even though you can go tightsless you are still hoping for an early spring with the rest of us.

yes, that skirt is so 'leanne'..with it's petal construction like her final collection...

i wear flip-flops all year round but only cuz we live in a tropical country! i don't think i can survive the cold without boots and a jacket (a thick one at that)..i even almost shivered to death at 10 deg celcius in HK...LOL.

I go to school in Pittsburgh PA, and I actually know a few people who would fit perfectly into your theory. I don't understand how they can trudge through slush with their toes exposed and their arms bare, but they manage to do it all winter.

Splendid scenery! i love your outfit too, the skirt has a nice drape. Talking about people who wear flip flops in winter, i saw them around campus in NE, wearing flip flop though it was snowing, then they went inside a building and complain about being cold..

I live in PA and maybe it is something about this place that gives us that philosophy. I haven't taken a winter jacket to school since i started high school because i walk to then end of my drive way to my brothers car and into the school. although i do bring a sweatshirt in the winter, but that's just for winter track where i'm outside running for an hour. also, i've seen kids in the past week where boys were wearing shorts and girls were wearing skirts with nothing under them. it really may be something about the people in PA.

Your outfits are all great. I am totally inspired by you. I hope you dont mind. But i have a silly question...is the weather where you live so good? I am hearing about bad weather all around the world and it makes me wonder... And i am so jealous about the place you leave. You are surrounded by nature!!!

I can definitely understand this philosophy. When you're hopping from building to building, car to car, I'd rather be chilly for a few moments than either miserably warm or lugging a bunch of layers around after I reach my destination.

My school is outdoors (which sucks beyond belief, obviously the architecht didn't catch on that it is ALWAYS RAINING HERE) so coats are generally necissary. However maybe I'm just going numb, but it seems to be getting warmer and a cardigan seems to suffice. I love your skirt, Leanne was my all time favorite PR contestant ever. I haven't watched the new season yet, is it any good?-indigo

Modcloth did a lovely job with this skirt, and I love that it's named for Leanne. She's my favorite Project Runway designer, ever (but who doesn't love her?). And of course, I love how you've styled this. Those shoes are badass.